Sidewise alignment of a longitudinally moving strip and the like



March 29, 1966 D. s. cvAcl-lo ETAL 3,243,089

SIDEWISE ALIGNMENT OF A LONGITUDINALLY MOVING STRIP AND THE LIKE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 18, 1963 @om Nm. N om N ON m INVENTORS DANIEL S. CVACHO BYJAMES A. BOWLING @MI )54m I /7/ THEIR ATTORNEYS March 29, 1966 D 5 CVACHO ETAL 3,243,089

sIDEwIsE ALIGNMENT 0F A LONGITUDINALLY MOVING STRIP AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 18, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 In INVENTORS DANIEL S. CVACHO BY JAMES A. BOWLING f 27m THEIR ATTORNEYS March 29, 1966 D. s. CVACHO ETAL 3,243,089

smEw ALIGNMENT oF A GITUDINALLY VING STRIP AND LIKE Filed Jan. 18, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS DA L. S. CVAC l o I Y 86Jf \|9 BTAM A. Bow G x 277mm,

THEIR ATTORNEYS March 29, 1966 D. s. cvAcHo ETAL 3,243,089

sIDEwIsE ALIGNMENT oF A LONGITUDINALLY MOVING STRIP AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 18, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 92PM-Es ZOO NVENTORS DANIEL S. CVACHO- JAMES A. BOWLING |36/ |82 l2 |34 |42 I 4m T HE IR ATTORNEYS United States Patent O M' 3,243,089 SIDEWISE ALIGNMENT F A LONGITUDINALLY MOVING STRIP AND 'II-IE LIKE Daniel S. Cvacho, Chesterfield County, and James A. Bowling Henrico County, Va., assignors to Reynolds Metals Company, Richmond, Va., a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 18, 1963, Ser. No. 252,516 16 Claims. (Cl. 226-130) This invention relates to the sidewise alignment of a longitudinally moving strip and thel like.

Articles are frequently manufactured by feeding a longitudinally moving strip of material to various mechanisms which convert the moving strip into the desired articles, For example, cylindrical containers may be madeA by feeding a long strip of material to mechanisms which curl the strip to bring the edges of the strip together and thereafter secure such edges to each other to form a relatively long tube. This tube may then be cut into a plurality of relatively short tubes which may be provided with end closures to produce the desired cylindrical containers.

In order to enhance the eciency of these mechanisms, this invention provides means for accurately sidewise aligning the longitudinally moving strip so it is fed to the mechanisms at the correct sidewise relationship to enable the mechanisms to form a properly curled tube.

Such a strip may be made of any suitable material, such as of metal which may be aluminous metal, such as commercially pure aluminum or suitable alloys thereof.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a method and/or apparatus for sidewise aligning such a strip.

Other objects are apparent from this, description, the appended claimed subject matter, and/ or the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of an apparatus embodying this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a diagrammatic top view of a portion of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged view taken from the line 3 3 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged side view of a portion of FIGURE 3 and taken from the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a cross section along line 5--5 of FIG- URE 3.

FIGURE 6 is a cross section, with parts broken away, taken along line 6-6 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 7 is a cross section taken along the line 7--7 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 8 is a view somewhat similar to a part of FIGURE 7 and showing the rollers spread apart for the insertion of the strip.

FIGURE 9 is a cross section along the line 9 9 of FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 10 is a view taken generally along the line 10-10 of FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 11 is a cross section along the line 11-11 of FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 12 is a perspective View, with certain parts exploded, which are seen substantially from line 12-12 of FIGURE 9.

FIGURE 13 is an exploded view, in perspective, showing certain parts which may be seen generally from the line 13-13 of FIGURE 11.

FIGURE 14 is a plan view of the rst and last bushings to hold the races of the irst and last rollers shown in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 15 is a plan View of the intermediate 10 bushings to hold the races of the intermediate 10 rollers shown in FIGURE 3.

Patented Mar. 29, 1966k ICC FIGURE 16 -is a plan view of a plate to hold down one of the roller bearing blocks.

A strip of material, which may be a metallic strip or the like, such as an aluminous metallic strip made of substantially commercially pure aluminum, or of an alloy thereof, may be fed at 20, FIGURES 1 and 2, from any suitable supply means. The supply means may include a plurality of feed rolls 22, FIGURE l, which may automatically feed strip 20 in response to the position of a dancer roll 24 which is mounted on a pivoted arm construction 26. The arm construction 26, in turn, regulates the feeding actions of the rolls 22, such as by automatic means diagrammatically indicated at 28, so the strip is fed at the proper speed to the strip sidewise adjusting means 30 which automatically adjusts the sidewise position of the strip 20 (or narrower strip 20A) so that the side edge 32 (or 32A) of the respective strip has been sidewise adjusted. The correctly adjusted strip may then be correctly fed to the punching and slitting mechanism 34 so the strip eventually may be gradually and correctly curved into a respective cylindrical tube 36 (or 36A). The tube 36 (or 36A) may be welded at the seam 40 or otherwise have its edges 32 and 42 (or 32A and 42A) secured to each other. These edges 32 and 42 (or 32A and 42A) may be straight and parallel edges if desired. The tube 36 (or 36A) may then be cut at lengths corresponding to the slits 44 (or 44A) and punched holes 46 (or 46A) so that tubes 48 (or 48A) may be delivered for such use as may be desired, such as for the formation of receptacles of any character.

The invention, however, is applicable to other apparatus than apparatus solely for the production of a continuous tube or a severed tube. The invention is applicable to any condition where it is desired to feed the strip 20 (or 20A) and its substantially straight edge 32 (or 32A) so that it is insured that the strip will be fed with its edge at the proper sidewise alignment for proper action in the apparatus into which this strip is fed.

The strip 20 (further description applies to strip 20A where applicable) may be at any irregular sidewise position as it passes under the dancer roll 24, as indicated diagrammatically in FIGURE 2, in an exaggerated sidewise displacement. The roller 24 may be part of the means for feeding the strip of material longitudinally.

Side edge -alignment limit means 50 may be provided to limit the sidewise movement of side edge 32 to the proper position. Such side edge alignment limit means may be in the form of a wheel structure which includes one or more wheels 52. The wheel structure or Wheels 52 may be provided with a side groove structure or grooves 54, FIGURES 6 and 7, which groove structure receives the s-traight edge 32 of the strip 20.

Means may be provided for urging the strip 20 sidewise to move the edge 32 against the Wheels 52. Such means may take the form of a roller structure.

Such roller structure may include one or more upper rollers 58 and/ or one or more lower rollers 60.

The rollers or roller structure 58, 60 may comprise means for urging the strip 20 sidewise against the alignment limit means 50 or wheels 52. Means may be provided to adjust the effectiveness of the roller structure 58, 60 to urge the strip sidewise. Such means may include means for adjusting or Varying a slight angle deviation 68, FIGURE 3, elsewhere described.

The rollers 5S and 60 are provided with a slight angle of deviation 68 from a right angle 64 in the rotation axial arrangement of the roller structure, as is illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3. The right angle 64 is measured with respect to the correct forward line of movement of the side edge 32 of the strip, or the straight line alignment of the apexes 62 of the grooves S4 of the aligning wheels 52. The right angle is indicated at 64, FIGURE 3. The axis 3 of rotation of a typical roller structure is indicated at 66 in FIGURE 3. The slight angle deviation is indicated at 68 in FIGURE 3, between the right angle 64 and the axis of rotation 66.

The slight angle 68 in the axial arrangement of the various rollers 58 and/or 60 causes the strip 20 to be urged sidewise, as indicated at 7G (or 70A) in FIGURE 2 so that the edge 32 approaches and gradually is urged into the grooves 54, and its sidewise movement is limited thereby, so that the strip is correctly placed in sidewise alignment with apparatus 34 by the time it reaches the position 72 (or 72A), FIGURE 2.

Means are provided to adjust the wheel 52 sidewise, as elsewhere more fully described, to vary the position 72 of the line of travel of the edge 32, to position 72A, FIG- URES 2 and 3, when a narrower strip 20A is required by the construction of the apparatus 34 which receives the strip.

Likewise, means are provided to adjust the effectiveness of the roller structure 58, 60, to urge the strip sidewise, and this may take the form of adjustment of the size of the slight angle 68 to vary the amount of sidewise thrust which the roller construction or roller constructions may impose on the strip 20 as it travels past such roller construction.

These adjustment means are more fully described elsewhere.

In order properly to support the strip 20, the wheel constructions 52 and the roller constructions 58 and 60 and to provide proper adjustments therefor, a frame structure 74, FIGURE l, may be provided, This frame structure 74 may be pivotally supported, as by a shaft at 76, and may be adjustably supported at 78, FIGURE l. These supporting structures 76 and 78 may be supported by brackets 89 and 82, which may be attached to any convenient supporting structure, such as the apparatus 34, or the like.

The axis or shaft of the pivotal support 76 may also be the axis or shaft of a roller 84 over which the strip 20 passes as it proceeds through the apparatus 34.

The frame structure 74 may include end angle members 86 and 88, FIGURE 3, and side angle members 90 and 92. An intermediate angle member 94 may also be provided. The frame 74 may be attached to the pivotal support 76 by any suitable means, such as by a bracket construction 96, FIGURE 1, which may be pivoted on the support or shaft 76 which may be a stationary shaft if desired. For example, the bracket 96, or brackets 96, may be secured to the end angle members 86.

The construction is such that the mechanism 30 may be angularly adjusted by the gear and ratchet construction 98, which may be turned by any suitable means, such as by the square end 100 of the shaft which carries the gear or gears 98.

In order to support the strip 20 as it passes through the apparatus 3f), a suitable strip supporting plate structure may be provided, and this may take the form of one or more strip supporting plates 102, FIGURES 3 and 6. These plates 102 may be supported by bolt and sleeve constructions 104 and 106 which are supported respectively on sub-plates 108 and on frame angle 90. The subplates 108 may be supported respectively on the side angle 92 and the intermediate angle 94 if desired.

The strip supporting plates 102 may be provided with skewed nylon bars 110 over which the strip 20 may glide without material frictional resistance and at the proper level, so that the edge 32 of strip 20 may enter the groove structures 54, as indicated in FIGURE 6. The upper surfaces 111 of the strips 110 may be as nearly as possible to the same level as the apexes of the grooves 54 to insure entrance of the edge of strip 20 into the grooves 54.

The wheels 52 may be mounted with the apexes of grooves 54 in straight alignment with respect to each other on a support bar 112, which rests on top of the strip supporting plates 162, FIGURES 3 and 6. This bar 112 may be adjustably secured on the plates 102 by the bolt constructions 114 which pass through the slots 116. The bolt construction 114 may be of any suitable type, so that when the bolt heads 118 are tightened the bar 115 is pulled upwardly with its ends extending beyond slot 116 and under plate 102, so the bar 112 is tightly pulled down against the plates 102. The plate 112 is then not readily movable from the selected adjusted position.

Any suitable mount-ing for the wheels 5-2 on the plate 112 may be provided. For example, a suitable bolt construction 120 tightly holds the inner ring member 122 of a ball race. The outer ball race member 124 is freely rotatable, and is attached to the wheel structure 52 by outward spring washers or rings for the support of the wheel structure 52. For example, the inner race 122 may be supported on a washer 126 and may be tightened by the down-ward thrust of a bushing 1-29 which has a shoulder 1-28 which engages the top surface of the inner race 122 and holds it tightly against the washer 126. The bushing 129 is pushed down by the head of the hex socket head cap screw bolt construction 120, which is threaded into the plate 112.

r[The outer race ring 124 is held by suitable spring washers 130 on wheel structure 52. In this manner the wheel structure 52 is freely rotatably held by the ball bearing construction which provides a free turning movement, but holds it against upward and downward movement.

The bushings 129 for the first and last wheels 52, shown in FIGURE 3, may have concentric clearance holes 129', FIGURE 14, to receive the screw bolt constructions 120. The bushings 129 for the intermediate ten wheels 52 shown in FIGURE 3 may have .020 yinch eccentricity clearance holes 129, FIGURE 15 which receive the screw bolt constructions `120.

The operator may adjust the plate 112 to its proper position against a moving strip, lock the plate 112 in position, and then by the adjustment means of the ten intermediate eccentric bushings 129, adjust each of the middle wheels 52 into the strip edge until each wheel 52 is turning. This provides an easy and efiicient means to align all twelve wheels 52.

By properly loosening the bolt heads 118, the bar 1-12 may be adjusted laterally properly to align the grooves 54 of the first and last wheels 52 in any position desired, within the limits of the slot construction 116. Thereafter the intermediate ten wheels 52 may be adjusted.

By this lateral adjustment of the first and last wheels 52, followed by the adjustment of intermediate Wheels 52 the strip alignment of any particular strip may be varied to adjust to the requirements of the apparatus 34. In addition, the apparatus may be adjusted for different widths of strips 20 and 20A, as is obvious.

For example, the wheels 52 may be in the full line position of FIGURES 2 and 3, when the strip is of the width of strip 20. However, if a narrower width strip 20A is to be used, then the Wheels 52 may be adjusted to the dotted line position 52A, FIGURE 3, so that the narrow strip 20A may then be more centrally located in the apparatus.

The slight angle 68, FIGURE 3, of the roller construction v58, 60 may be made adjustable to vary the strip sidewise urging action of the roller construction. This may be accomplished by providing bearing supports 132 at one end of the roller constructions, which bearing supports 132 are pivotally mounted to rotate about an axis 134. The other ends of the .roller constructions may be mounted on bearing supports y136 which are slidably adjustable by the manually turnable knobs 138, to vary the position of the axes y66 to v-ary the angle 68 of the rollers 58 and 60. The axes 66 may turn about the fulcrum construction 134 w-hen the manual adjusting knobs 138 are turned to vary the slight angle 68.

Details of the bearing construction 132 may include a lower block 140, FIGURE 13, which has upward arms -14-2, which receive the upper bearing block 144 in a slidable manner. A short shaft extension 146 extends into an opening 148, FIGURE 7, in angle 90, so that the lbearingconstruction 132 may be pivoted about the shaft 146. T-his shaft may be bolted down yby the bolt construction 150 and the sleeve construction 152, so that the vroller con-struction may be lirmly held, but at the same time be allowed to swing the slight amount necessary to vary the angle 68 asdesired. The sleeve construction may be welded to angle 90, i-f desired.V A suitable spring 154 is placed underneath the upper bearing member 144 and another spring 156 is placed above the bearing member 144. A top plate 158 may be held down by bolts '160. The upper end of the spring 156 may beheld -by a cup-shaped Washer 162. An adjusting screw bolt 164 adjustably engages the cup 162 and adjusts the downward pressure of the spring 156 on the bear ing 144.

The rollers 58 and 60y are mounted to rotate on the non-rotational shafts 166and 168. These rollers 58 and 6 0 -may be mounted on Atheseshafts by roller bearings 170 of any well known construction which hold the rollers 58 and 60 axially xed on the shafts, but rotationally free to rotate freely about the shafts.

The; shafts 166 and 168are held against longitudinal movement by the :sleeves 166 and 168', which act on the inner rings 170 of the ball races and on the blocks 144 and 140 to prevent longitudinal movement of the bars 166 and 16S. The snap rings 17.0" hold the outer rings of the bolt races in place.

The shafts 166 and 168 are received respectively in the openings 172 and 174 in the bearing blocks 144 and 140 of bearing. construction 132. The end of the shaft 166 is secured to an endjpiece 175, FIGURE 10, to be engaged by a lifting cam 178, the operation of which cam is .more fully elsewhere described. The end piece 175 may be secured to shaft 166 by screw bolt 179 to lock the shaft 166 against lef'tward longitudinal move.- ment. The screw bolt 179 draws the shaft 166 with its shoulder up against the inner race 170'and the inner race against sleeve 166.

The purpose of cams 178 (and 202 elsewhere described) is to lift the upper rollers 58 from the lower rollers 60, so that the strip can be initially placed between such rollers, as `elsewhere described.

The lower shaft 168 may be secured to the end piece 181,by screw bolt 183 to hold the shaft 168 in non-rotational and longitudinally fixed condition.

Thebearing structure 136 has a lower block 180, FIG.- URES 7, 8, 9 and 12, which has upward prongs 182 which slidably receive the upper bearing block 184. The non-rotational shaft 168 is received in the opening 186 and the non-rotational shaft 166 is received in the opening 188. Thebottom 190and flanges 194 of the block 180 areloosely slidable within a groove 192, FIGURE 7, formed along the sides of rails 196 and 198 of the plate 197, FIGURE 16. These rails 196 and 198 may be held above the anges 194 by the thicker ends 197, 197 of the plate 195 which may be bolted to the frame 92 by bolts 199.

The bearing block 184 may be slidably secured to the arms 182 of bearing block 180 in any desired manner. For example, the shaft 166 may be non-rotationally secured to the block184 by a screw bolt 200 or the like, which is threaded in opening 201 in block 184 to engage a at .portion on shaft 166.

Means may be provided to displace the roller structure by moving the rollers 58 upward from rollers 60, as shown in FIGURE 8, so that the strip 20 may be initially vfed between the rollers 58. and 60. Such means may include cams 202 carried by a Shaft 204 on one side of the apparatus 30, and cams 178, carried by the shaft 206 on the other side of the apparatus 30. The shaft 204 may be turned by a handle 208, which is secured to the shaft 204. The shaft 204 rotates all of the cams k202 on its side of the apparatus 30 and this shaft is providedwith a worm gear construction 210,- 212, which transfers in rotational movement to the'shaft 214. The shaft 214l has another worm gearconstruction at 216, which rotates the -shaft 206. Therefore, when lthe handle 208 is rotated, all of the shafts 204, 214 and 206 are rotated so that all of the cams 202 and 178 are rotated to lift Ithe upper rollers 58 from the lower rollers as shown in FIGURE 8, so lthat the stripf20 may be fed between the rollers 58 and 60'. Thereafter, the handle 208 may be turned, to return the rollers 58 to the nor'- mal position shown in FIGURE 7, where a certain amount of pressure is applied to the strip -as it moves between the rollers 58 and 60.

If desired, means may be provided to lock the handle 208 against accidental turning. For example, a lever 209, FIGURE 4,- may be hinged to a support 211 and may engage a notch 215 on a ring 213-which is secured to the shaft 204. A spring 217holds the lever 209 down to lock the shaft 204 against turningun'til the lever209 is deliberately lifted.

The bearing blocks on the `ends ofthe roller vshafts are connected tothe adjusting handles 138 by means of plates 220 which are boltedvat 222; FIGURE 5, to the respective blocks 180. The other-ends of theplates 220 are secured by bolts 224 to the rodconstructions 226. These rod constructions have a screw threaded engage.- ment at 228 with the handle construction 230. The handle construction 230 engages the swivel ball 232 and is locked thereto by the sleeve 234, so the handle portion 230 is not axially movable, but the rod construction 226 is axially movable to adjust the'bearing, block.180. The swivel ball 232 is mounted on a block 236 which may be any part of the framework as desired. The swivel construction 232 is for the purpose of permitting a slight swiveling action of the rod construction 226 as theblock 180 slides back and forth to adjust the angle 68FIG`- URE 3. Turning of knob 13.8 axially moves the rod construction 226 and .slides the block 180 on frame92.` This Aadjusts the ends 166 and 168 ofthe shafts166'and 168 and hence also the angles 68 of the rollers V58 and`60.

In operation, the strip 20 is fed by the. dancer roll 24 between the rollers 58 and 60. These rollers are at a slight angle 68, FIGURE 3, from a true right angle4 64 with respect to the longitudinal travelof the strip 20. This slight angle 68 of the rollers causes themxto urge thestrip sidewise at 70 until the edge 32 engages the grooves 54, FIGURE 6, ofthe wheels 52. The aligrrment of these grooves 54 insures that the edge 32 of the strip is properly aligned at 72 so the strip -is properly fed into the machine 34 in proper edge alignment'to -cooperate with the members which produce the openings 46 and slits 44 at the proper positions with respect to the edge 32. The proper alignment is thus insured.

The lateral alignment ofthe Wheels 52 is adjustable by manipulation of knobs 118, FIGURE 6. The angular positions of the rollers 58 4and 60 are adjustable bythe knobs 138. The rate of feed of the strip is controlled automatically by the. position of the dancer roll 24..

An efficient side edge alignment mechanismis thus provided.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed as required by statute, other forms maybe used, all coming within the scope of the. claimed subject matter which follows.

What is claimed is:

1. A strip guiding means for receiving a strip of material with a strip side edge and for aligning and delivering said strip with such strip side edge along a desired edge alignment plane comprising: a pluralityof spaced plates with strip supporting surfaces lying in a common support plane, said plates havin-g transverse plate edges transverse to said edge alignment plane; a longitudinal row of edge guiding wheels rotatable about axes substantially perpendicular to said support plane and each wheel having a strip edge receiving groove lying in said common support plane; a wheel support bar supporting said row of wheels; adjustable bar support means for supporting said bar in a plurality of positions to adjust said wheels for different strip widths; a plurality of pairs of upper and lower rollers respectivey adjacent said transverse plate edges, said rollers having their axes with a slight angle deviation from a right angle to said alignment plane and receiving and yguiding said strip between said rollers and laterally urging said strip side edge toward said edge receiving grooves in said wheels.

2. A strip guiding means according to claim 1, in which some of said wheels are adjustable sidewise on said support bar.

3. A strip guiding means for receiving a strip of material with a strip side edge and for aligning and delivering said strip with such strip side edge along a desired edge alignment plane comprising: a plurality of spaced plates with strip supporting surfaces lying in a common support plane, said plates having transverse plate edges transverse to said edge alignment plane; a longitudinal row of edge guiding wheels rotatable about axes substantially perpendicular to said support plane and each wheel having a strip edge receiving groove lying in said common support plane; a wheel support bar supporting said row of wheels; adjustable bar support means for supporting said bar in a plurality of positions to adjust said wheels for dilerent strip widths; a plurality of pairs of upper and lower rollers respectively adjacent said transverse plate edges, said rollers having their axes with a slight angle deviation from a right angle to said alignment plane and receiving and guiding said strip between said rollers and laterally urging said strip side edge toward said edge receiving grooves in said Wheels, and in which said rollers have inner normally stationary central shafts which are pivotally mounted at one of their ends and are slidably mounted at their other ends; and manual adjustment means to slidably adjust said slidably mounted ends.

4. A strip guiding means for receiving a strip of material with a strip side edge and for aligning and delivering said strip with such strip side edge along a desired edge alignment plane comprising: a plurality of spaced plates with strip supporting surfaces lying in a common support plane, said plates having transverse plate edges transverse to said edge alignment plane; a longitudinal row of edge guiding wheels rotatable about axes substantially perpendicular to said support plane and each wheel having a strip edge receiving groove lying in said common support plane; a wheel support bar supporting said vrow of wheels; adjustable bar support means for support- 'and receiving and guiding said strip between said rollers and laterally urging said strip side edge toward said edge receiving grooves in said wheels, and having a frame to which said plates are secured; said plates having transverse slots, said support bar being adjustably secured to said plates by bolt constructions passing through said slots, said bolts being securable at selected positions along said slots.

5. A strip guiding means according to claim 4 in which some of said wheels are mounted on said support bar in xed axial positions by concentric ball race constructions 'and other of said wheels are mounted on said support bar in adjustable axial positions by eccentric ball race constructions.

6. A strip guiding means for receiving a strip of material with a strip side edge and for aligning and delivering said strip with such strip side edge along a desired edge alignment plane comprising: a plurality of spaced plates with strip supporting surfaces lying in a common support plane, said plates having transverse plate edges transverse to said edge alignment plane; a longitudinal row of edge guiding wheels rotatable about axes substantially perpendicular to said support plane and each wheel having a strip edge receiving groove lying in said common support plane; a Wheel support bar supporting said row of wheel; adjustable bar support means for supporting said bar in a plurality of positions to adjust said wheels for different strip widths; a plurality of pairs of upper and lower rollers respectively adjacent said transverse plate edges, said rollers having their axes with a slight angle deviation from a right angle to said alignment plane and receiving and guiding said strip between said rollers and laterally urging said strip side edge toward said edge receiving grooves in said wheels, and mounted on a slanting frame pivotally supported at its upper end by a pivotal shaft around which a strip guiding pivotal roller rotates and feeds said strip to a place of use, said frame being angularly adjustable about said pivotal shaft, with its lower end being supported and adjusted by a gear and ratchet construction, one pair of said rollers feeding said strip to said pivotal roller and another of said pairs of rollers receiving said strip from a strip feed means.

7. A strip guiding means for receiving a strip of material with a strip side edge and for aligning and delivering said strip with such strip side edge along a desired edge alignment plane comprising: a plurality of spaced plates with strip supporting surfaces lying in a common support plane, said plates having transverse plate edges transverse to said edge alignment plane; a longitudinal row of edge guiding wheels rotatable about axes substantially perpendicular to said support plane and each wheel having a strip edge receiving groove lying in said common support plane; a wheel support bar supporting said row of wheel; adjustable bar support means for supporting said bar in a plurality of positions to adjust said wheels for diierent strip widths; a plurality of pairs of upper and lower rollers respectively adjacent said transverse plate edges, said rollers having their axes with a slight angle deviation from a right angle to said alignment plane and receiving and guiding said strip between said rollers and laterally urging said strip side edge toward said edge receiving grooves in said wheels, and in which said plates are provided with skewed nylon strips to guide said strip in a frictionless manner sidewise into contact with said wheels.

8. A strip guiding means for receiving a strip of material with a strip side edge and for aligning and delivering said strip with such strip side edge along a desired edge alignment plane comprising: a side edge alignment limit means to guide said side edge along said alignment plane; a plurality of spaced plates with strip supporting surfaces lying in a common support plane; a plurality of pairs of upper and lower parallel rollers adjacent edges of said plates respectively having their axes with a slight angle deviation from a right angle to said alignment plane and receiving and guiding said strip between said rollers in said common support plane and laterally urging said strip side edge toward said alignment limiting means; and manual adjustment means for spreading apart both ends of said pairs of rollers for insertion of said strip between said rollers.

9. A strip guiding means according to claim 8 having means for simultaneously spreading apart a plurailty of said pairs of rollers for insertion of said strip.

10. A strip guiding means according to claim 8 in which said rollers have stationary inner shafts extending beyond the ends of said rollers, and in which cams are provided under the ends of said inner shafts of said upper rollers for lifting said upper rollers from said lower rollers.

l1. A strip guiding means according to claim 10' in which said cams are monuted on manually rotatable shaft means.

12. A strip guiding means according to claim 11 in which said rotatable shaft means is rotatable by a single manipulator to spread a plurality of said pairs of rollers simultaneously.

13. A strip guiding means for receiving a strip of material with a strip side edge and for aligning and delivering said strip with such strip side edge along a desired edge alignment plane comprising: a side edge alignment limit means to guide said side edge along said alignment plane; a plurality of spaced plates with strip supporting surfaces lying in a common support plane; a plurality of pairs of upper and lower parallel rollers adjacent edges of said plates respectively having their axes with a slight angle deviation from a right angle to said alignment plane and receiving said guiding said strip between said rollers in said common support plane and laterally urging said strip side edge toward said alignment limit means; and manual adjustment means for spreading apart both ends of said pairs of rollers for insertion of said strip between said rollers, and in Which said rollers have stationary inner shafts extending beyond the ends of said rollers, and in which cams are provided under the ends of said inner shafts of said upper rollers for lifting said upper rollers from said lower rollers, and in which said cams are mounted on manually rotatable shaft means, and in which said rollers are supported by pairs of ball races between said rollers and stationary shafts; a U shaped pivotal block block construction with upward arms and pivotally receiving and holding one end of each lower shaft, with an upwardly Slidable bearing block slidable in said upward arms to receive the upper corresponding end of each upper shaft; a slidable U shaped block with upward arms and receiving the other end of each lower shaft, with an upwardly slidable bearing block slidable in said last-named upward arms and receiving the other end of each upper shaft, said shafts being longitudinally locked in said respective pivotal blocks.

14. A strip guiding means for receiving a strip of material with a strip side edge and for aligning and delivering said strip with such strip side edge along a desired edge alignment plane comprising: longitudinal feed means for longitudinally feeding such strip along a support plane with a sidewise urging action; a longitudinal row of edge guiding wheels adjacent the side of said longitudinal feed means rotatable about axes substantially perpendicular to said support plane and each wheel having a strip edge receiving groove lying in said support plane;

l10 a wheel support bar supporting said row of wheels; and adjustable support means for supporting said bar in a plurality of positions to adjust said wheels for different Widths.

15. A strip guiding means according to claim 14 in which some of said wheels are adjustable sidewise on said support bar.

16. A strip guiding means for receiving a strip of material with a strip side edge and for aligning and delivering said strip with such strip side edge along a desired edge alignment plane comprising: longitudinal feed means for longitudinally feeding such strip along a support plane with a sidewise urging action; a longitudinal row of edge guiding Wheels adjacent the side of said longitudinal feed means rotatable about axes substantially perpendicular to said support plane and each wheel having a strip edge receiving groove lying in said support plane; a wheel support bar supporting said row of wheels; and adjustable support means for supporting said bar in a plurality of positions to adjust said wheels for different widths, and in which some of said wheels are adjustable sidewise on said support bar, and in which some of said wheels are mounted on said support bar in fixed axial positions by concentric ball race constructions and other of said Wheels are mounted on said support bar in adjustable axial positions by eccentric ball race constructions.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,958,692 5/ 1934 Besal 226-18 2,072,122 3/1937 Montgomery 226-199 X 2,121,665 6/1938 Hudson 226-199 X 2,228,913 1/1941 Martin 271-49 2,287,768 6/ 1942 Eckstein 226-1 2,595,325 5/ 1952 Baumgartner 226-198 2,73 1,262 1/1956 Morrow 226-1 2,751,067 6/ 1956 Nicholson 226-23 3,001,787 9/1961 Socke 271-59 X 3,054,547 9/ 1962 Alexet et al 226-198 3,078,021 2/ 1963 Crowniield 226-21 3,129,489 4/ 1964 Nelson 226-176 X M. HENSON WOOD, IR., Primary Examiner.

ANDRES H. NIELSEN, SAMUEL F. COLEMAN,

ROBERT B. REEVES, Examiners.

A. T. MCKEON, R. A. SCHACHER,

Assistant Examiners. 

14. A STRIP GUIDING MEANS FOR RECEIVING A STRIP OF MATERIAL WITH A STRIP SIDE EDGE AND FOR ALIGNING AND DELIVERING SAID STRIP WITH SUCH STRIP SIDE EDGE ALONG A DESIRE EDGE ALIGNMENT PLANE COMPRISING: LONGITUDINAL FEED MEANS FOR LONGITUDINALLY FEEDING SUCH STRIP ALONG A SUPPORT PLANE WITH A SIDEWISE URGING ACTION; A LONGITUDINAL ROW OF EDGE GUIDING WHEELS ADJACENT THE SIDE OF SAID LONGITUDINAL FEED MEANS ROTATABLE ABOUT AXES SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO SAID SUPPORT PLANE AND EACH WHEEL HAVING STRIP EDGE RECEIVING GROOVE LYING IN SAID SUPPORT PLANE; 